J-Dubs

pizzastiel: i’m really sorry

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:36:56 -0400

pizzastiel:

i’m really sorry

gymandmotivation: you’re reaction? Priceless

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:25:24 -0400

gymandmotivation:

you’re reaction?

Priceless

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Fri, 17 May 2013 13:20:42 -0400

gymandmotivation: “Build your own throne ...

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:19:28 -0400

gymandmotivation:

“Build your own throne

if there are none to sit on”

giantspacefetus: get in, no time to explain This shit is...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:20:29 -0400

giantspacefetus:

get in, no time to explain

This shit is bananas!

blondesquats: justliftingthings: if squats were easy they’d be...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:46:34 -0400

blondesquats:

justliftingthings:

if squats were easy they’d be called ‘your mom’.
justliftingthings

LOL wut

work-hard-no-excuses: 46 y.o. Drool…. just sayin. I wanna do...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:24:41 -0400

work-hard-no-excuses:

46 y.o. Drool…. just sayin.

I wanna do this line up with my followers…. they are not famous…. but they look HAWT.

be-a-shreddedkunt-or-die-mirin: fuck-toned-get-shredded: Tim...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:23:31 -0400

be-a-shreddedkunt-or-die-mirin:

fuck-toned-get-shredded:

Timbahwolf

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Sun, 14 Apr 2013 10:22:50 -0400

Photo

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:44:55 -0400

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Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:43:03 -0400

mettamuscle: crosstrainingcanadian: The “strongest family in...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:40:15 -0400

mettamuscle:

crosstrainingcanadian:

The “strongest family in the world”
A 5year old girl dead lifting 100lbs.

“sickest garage gym in the world” … this fam is adorbs and bad ass

barbellbuddies: elitefts.com: The Reason Behind Training...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:39:25 -0400

barbellbuddies:

elitefts.com: The Reason Behind Training Motivation (part 1)

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Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:02:57 -0400

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Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:47:40 -0400

buildingthebodybeautiful: Phil Heath

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:45:46 -0400

buildingthebodybeautiful:

Phil Heath

Surge to New Levels: Accessory Vs. Supplementary Lifts

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:56:11 -0400

Surge to New Levels: Accessory Vs. Supplementary Lifts:

surge-to-new-levels-with-fitness:

The difference between accessory and supplemental lifts comes down to one simple distinction.

Supplemental lifts closely mimic the main lifts by training a movement while accessory lifts focus on working the muscle instead.

Supplemental lifts may consists of board presses, floor presses,…

markythrills: Conquer

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:53:16 -0400

markythrills:

Conquer

Relentless Pursuit of Strength: Programming: Oly vs. PL

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:56:34 -0400

Relentless Pursuit of Strength: Programming: Oly vs. PL:

relentlesspursuitofstrength:

Just from my experience, it seems like PL-ers have a strict program that they follow, sometimes for 10-12 weeks, sometimes for years. SS, GSLP, 5/3/1, Texas Method, SL5x5, etc. And often they’ll swear by them, and never deviate.

Meanwhile, most Oly lifters seem to be like, “I dunno, man, I just…

"Why Speed Work Doesn't Work" by Mike Tuchscherer

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:07:15 -0400

"Why Speed Work Doesn't Work" by Mike Tuchscherer:

barbellbuddies:

So this article is about why speed work doesn’t work — at least not for the reasons you think it does.

Speed work defined
For now, let’s define speed work as anything under a 7 RPE. If you complete a set and you could have done 5 or more reps, it counts as speed work. If you’re doing doubles or triples with less than 75%, it probably counts. If you’re doing singles with less than 85%, it probably counts. If this is just a warm-up to your heavier work, then it probably doesn’t count as speed work.

Reason #1: Force output during speed work is crap
If you attempt a squat in a meet and grind it for 15 or 20 seconds, but complete the lift for white lights, yet your competitor completes the same weight in 3 seconds, who wins? Assume both of you move up 5 pounds and miss. The answer is you tie (or win/lose based on bodyweight which is pretty much a tie) because there is NO time component to powerlifting. Despite the name, power (in the physics sense) is not what you care about as a powerlifter. You care about force.
It’s common meathead knowledge that force equals mass times acceleration and many of you can cite Russian manuals that state, in theory, you can maximize force by maximizing the mass on the bar or the acceleration.

I’m here to tell you that doesn’t work in reality.

I’ve tested it. Peak force production is tied to the weight on the bar. Are you trying to maximize force? Add weight. In real life, you won’t be able to accelerate enough to produce force like you can in a max lift. No way around it. Sure, a set done with maximum acceleration will produce more force than one done with an even tempo. But only if the weight on the bar is similar. If you always accelerate maximally, you will produce more force if the weight on the bar is heavier, even though acceleration is less.

For those who want a reason why, here it is. It takes time for your body to ramp up to maximum force (Fmax). In a heavy lift the bar speed is slow enough to get there (or get close). In a light lift, the bar speed is too fast for you to have time to get to Fmax.

Force, the most important quality for a powerlifter, is not practiced with speed work. Doing speed work does not produce maximal force. In theory it should, but in real life it doesn’t. My numbers indicate that even at 75% of 1RM (too heavy to be considered “speed weight” by most), force production is still only 85%. When you consider that increasing the weight to 90% or 95% yields near-maximum levels of force production, it’s easy to see that when it comes to practicing your ability to produce force, you can’t beat heavy weights. And if you’re worried about spending too much time with 90-95% loads, please read my previous article “You are not overtrained”. Don’t be scared.

Reason #2: Technique is not perfected
If you have decent form (i.e. You know what good form is and you can demonstrate it with light weight), then speed work will not help you get better. The weights are typically so light that they involve a different motor pattern than will be used on heavy weight. Besides, it makes far more sense to do technique practice with a weight that challenges your technique (and thus requires you to pay attention and practice) than to do technique practice with something easy.

So why do people do it?

Powerlifting is a pretty simple sport. There is force and technique. Not much else plays a role. Speed work can contribute to hypertrophy, but it’s not ideal. So why do people seem to get gains from doing speed work?

First, it’s hard to say that speed work gave them the gains. These programming changes are almost never made in isolation, so it easily could have been some other aspect of training.

It could have been the increase in frequency. Most lifters go from one heavy squat season a week to one heavy and one light session. In that case I would say that although speed work isn’t ideal, it’s a net win because frequency went up.

It can also help those who are chronically beat up. Since it typically involves lighter weight, it should cause less structural stress, so it can sometimes result in fewer injuries, which allows people to improve more over time. With that said, I think proper volume management and good general conditioning limits the need for this kind of thing for the vast majority of lifters out there.

And lastly, it’s a case of good, better, best. Speed work would likely produce results in someone if they were untrained enough. But that doesn’t mean it is ideal.

If you use speed work in your training, I encourage you to gradually migrate to something heavier. Don’t over-complicate it. Just gradually use heavier weights. Your prime work sets need to be at least an 8 RPE if not higher. No need to thank me — your future PR says it all.

Mike Tuchscherer is the founder of Reactive Training Systems as well as a competitive powerlifter. In his own powerlifting career, Mike has racked up wins all over the world including national titles, world records, and IPF world championships. In 2009, Mike went to Taiwan and became the first American male in history to win the gold medal for Powerlifting at the World Games. Since, he has been pursuing raw competitions where he has continued to set records and compete among the best on the planet. Professionally, Mike has coached 12 national champions, 2 IPF world record holders, national record holders in countries throughout the world, pro level multi ply lifters, strongmen, and literally hundreds of lifters who have set incredible personal bests following Mike’s coaching advice Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter

Very interesting read. I doubt I will stop doing speed work but Mike is one of the strongest men on the planet and he makes since with his argument.